Tanzania in the spotlight over ‘bomb’ chemical seized in Pakistan

Thursday January 14 2016

Port of Dar es Salaam. Authorities in Pakistan have reportedly seized a large quantity of a chemical used for making improvised explosive devices that allegedly originated from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. PHOTO | FILE

In Summary

According to the Pakistani news website The International News, the amount is by far the biggest quantity of acetic anhydride seized anywhere in the world.

Acetic anhydride is banned in many countries because it is used as the major precursor for the production of heroin and is also used in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

According the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), it is possible to purchase pharmaceutical products on demand in most countries in East Africa without presenting a valid prescription.